Passing the Faith along through time

EDITORIAL

When Erin Lewandowski, one of the newest members of Our Lady of the Assumption parish in Schenectady, is 50 years old, the Albany Diocese will celebrate its Bicentennial, probably with a solemn liturgy. We hope she's there for that special occasion.

Erin, now only five months old, was present last Sunday at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville for a Sesquicentennial Liturgy marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese (see pages 1 and 1-8B). As one of the youngest in attendance, she has a chance to attend two significant moments in diocesan history: the Sesquicentennial and the Bicentennial.

The year of the latter will be 2047, and the Diocese will no doubt be holding a number of events focusing on its 200th birthday. But they will have to pull out all the stops to top what happened on Sep. 14, 1997 when thousands of lay Catholics joined a cardinal; dozens of bishops, priests and deacons; and scores of women and men religious to spend two-and-a-half hours in deep prayer and joyful commemoration, reflecting on the past greatness of Catholicism in upstate New York, hoping for the future growth of the faith and proving the vitality of believers now.

Last Sunday's Mass was a reaffirmation of spirituality and community for Catholics of our time as well as a challenge to those of 2047. We hope they do better because that will be both a sign that the Church in our Diocese is continuing to progress through time and a testimony that we did our part to move it along. Erin and her generation will be the inheritors of how well we did, just as we are the heirs of those who preceded us: the pioneers, missionaries and immigrants who built the Diocese into the vibrant community displayed at Auriesville.

(09-18-97)